COMPETENCY AND PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT OF ANIMAL CARE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS Elizabeth Dodemaide B.V.Sc., M.A. Associate Director, Laboratory Animal Services Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Challenges in a Large Academic Institution Diversity of Research: Field Studies to Farm Animals to Cancer to Neuroscience

Challenges in a Large Academic Institution Diversity of Researchers: –Professors –Post docs –Students Graduate, Undergraduate, High School Animal care staff Cultural diversity

Challenges in a Large Academic Institution Numerous facilities Distance

How do we determine competency? Adequate animal welfare Research results Non-compliant findings Observation of technical and surgical procedures

How do we achieve competency? Training –Orientation program –Hands-on training –Department/ lab meeting visits –Re-training

Responsibility for Training IACUC delegates Laboratory Animal Services veterinarians to provide Orientation Training Principal Investigators responsible for registering all individuals and ensuring training in protocol specific procedures Protocol approval contingent on PI completing Orientation training

Orientation Programs Face-to-face Negatives - Limited number of classes – PIs, students have class scheduling conflicts - Travel problems to location of class –Diverse group with very different needs

Orientation Programs Face-to face Positives – Participants get to meet a veterinarian or other Lab Animal Services staff member -Able to ask questions -Able to meet and interact with other animal users

Orientation Programs Online Negatives – Impersonal, don’t meet LAS staff - Can’t ask questions - Computer access necessary

Orientation Programs Online Positives –Can be completed at any time –Modules provide more focused training

Hands-on Training Species specific Small groups Negative - Voluntary Positive - Trainer able to observe proficiency in techniques

Lab Visits Focuses on lab needs Dialogue often identifies areas for further training Result: Improved compliance

Proficiency Assessment Observation of surgeries and certain procedures Often a condition of protocol approval Result: Better animal welfare and compliance

Hazards Individual SOP for each hazard Tied to protocol approval Training of animal care and investigator’s staff Observation of first procedure with Health and Safety person – often done as dry run

Field Studies Training & observation can be difficult May require study specific occupational health/hazard training

Summary Providing adequate training for all animal users is challenging Good communication with PIs is vital Need continual critical evaluation to update and improve programs

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